Boot holder



Aug. 28, 1945. w 2,383,651 BOOT HOLDER v Filed Sept. 11, 1943 INVENTOR:

Harvey 14/ /7/ ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 28, 1945 UNITED STATES" PATENT FFICE- Boo'r HOLDER I I Harvey W. Hill, Parkville, Mo. Application September 11 1943, Serial No. 502,045

15 Claims. (01. 12 -129.1)

This invention relates to a boot holder or the like, and more particularly to a holder adapted for supporting sucharticles while being dried.

Whendrying boots, waders and shoes, and particularly what is called hip boots commonly used by hunters and fishermen, it is desirable to hold the articles in approximately the shape and form as when they arein use, which provides for better circulation of air and rapid and even drying.

Further objects ofthe invention are to provide an improved holderof the character referred. to which is adapted to support a boot or the like in position more conducive to rapid,.umform drying; to provide a device which will holdthe sole of the shoe or boot in a fiat position so as to prevent .thetoe from curlingupwardly; to provide a device which can be instantly adjusted to fit any size of boot; to provide a device which may be folded and packed in a container in flat position, and to provide a device easily and inexpensively to manufacture.

. In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, as hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred .form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a boot holder embodying the features of the present invention applied to a boot.

viewed from the toe end thereof.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device embodyapplied thereto.

loop portion 7 adapted to engage under the toe 5 I of said boot, the end of the loop portion 1 being bent inwardly and rearwardly as at 8 to form a second sole portion 9 extending to the bend 3 in the body portion 2, where the sole portion 9 is bent over the rod 2 to form a coil I0 holding the portions 4 and 9 in the shape of a V, the end of the coil l0 being provided with a loop ll extending upwardly from the rod 2 to'forma hanger support, aslater described.

The bars 4 and 9' form a rigid support for the sole [2 of the boot l3 when the loop portion 1 is engaged over the toe5 of the boot.

The body portion 2 extends rearwardly of the coil l0 past theheel portion 14 of the boot, and is provided with a stop member I 5 that is rigidly attached to the rear end of the body portion 2, as by welding. The rear end of the body portion 2 is also screw threaded as at 16 and carries a nut l l to adjust the position of a heel engaging member IS on the body member 2 to accommodate the device for the particular size of boot to be supported.

The heel engaging member comprises a U- shapedstrap member l9 having spaced arms 20 and 2| connected at their upper edges by a bar portion 22. The arms 20 and 2| have apertures 23- and 24, respectively, through which the body member 2 projects to slidablymount the member I8 thereon.

The side 2| of the U-shaped member I9 is provided with a forwardly turned flange 25, the forward edge 26 of which is adapted to engage the ber with the heel of the boot will hold the'toe portion 5 thereofin the loop 1, whereby the Weight of the boot may be carried by said heel engaging member and the loop 1.

The arm 20 of the U-shaped member l9 extends downwardly below the flange 25 toprovidea hand hold for'exerting pressure against the coil spring to open the device so that-it maybe placed on a boot or to disengage the member IB'from engagement with the heel of a boot after it has been In order to provide for hanging the boot holder and-boot in a suitableplace of storage or for drying, I provide a hook member-28 having an eye portion 29 at the lower end thereof adapted'to be secured to the loop ll, said loop H and 'eye'29'being sufiiciently large to permit free movement of the hook member 28 relative to the body portion 2 of the boot holder. Theupper end o'f-the'hook member is provided with a hook 30 of suitable shape to engage over a rod or other hanging device (not shown).

The operation of a device scribed is as follows After adjustment of the nut I I on the screw threaded portion lfi of therod 2 'for the size of boot to be hung, the loop I of thedevice is hooked constructed as de- 2 g i fjTQ-T under the toe of a boot to be dried and by placing the thumb of the operator of the device on the stop member l5 and applying force on the downwardly extending arm portion 20 of the heel engaging member l8 by the forefinger of the hand of the operator pressure will be exerted against the coil spring 21 to open the device so that the arm portion 2| of the heel engaging member I8 may engage the heel of the boot to be dried. The boot is thenhung by the hook 28 ina-,c onvenientplacefor drying;

Holders embodying my mventienpreferably are adjustable to accommodate boots of different sizes within wide ranges.

A holder constructed in accordance with -my invention is of light, simple and inexpensive construction which may be readily adjustedl'as'semengaging .theheel oi said boot, and resilient means'engagin the heel engaging' member for holding said member in engagement with the heel of said boot.

8. A boot holder comprisin a wire rod formed in-the shape of a triangle, the base of which is shaped downwardly and inwardly to form a loop for engaging the toe of a boot, a body member bled and disassembled for5packingor Tcarryingini a car, grip, dufile ba or the like.

What I claim and desire to secure -byL'ette'rs 1. In a device of the character: described, a body member having a portion at one ,end thereof-for engaging the toe of aboot, means for engaging the heel of said boot, said heeLengaging means being adjustable entire body, member to. adapt the device to fit different sizeboots, and means hingedly connected at substantially the center of the body member for supporting same andthe boot to which it is applied.

2. In a device of the character described, a body member having a portion at one end thereof for engaging the toe of a boot, a ,U-shaped member for engaging the heel of said boot,-;said U-shaped member bein movable on the body member to adapt the device to fit ditlerentsize boots, means for adjusting the, tension on the lJ-shaped member, and means engagingthe body member at substantially the center thereon-for supporting same and the boot to which ,it is applied. I l

3. In a device of the-character described, a body member havinga portion at one end thereof for engaging the toe of a boot, a memberfor engaging the heel of said boot, said heel engagin member being adjustable on the bodymember to adapt the deviceto fit difierentsize boots, and means. hingedly connected at substantially the center of the bodymember formanging the device after the device is applied to-a boot.

4. A boot holdencomprising a wire rod formed in the shape of a triangle, the] basepf which is shaped downwardly and inwardly to form a loop for engaging the toeofa boot, a body member extending rearwardly of' the-boot from the apex of the triangle, means on the body member for engaging the heel of the boot to cooperate with loop member in supporting the boot, and means for hanging the device after the :device is applied to a boot. ,7 l v V 5. A boot holder comprising a wire rod formed in the shape of -a triangle, the base of which is shaped downwardly and inwardly to form, a loop for engaging the toe of a boot, a body member extending; rearwardly of the boot from the apex of the triangle, and means movable on the extension for engaging" the heel of the hoot to cooperate withgthe loop member in supporting the boot. r

6. A boot holder comprising a wire rod formed in the shape of a triangle, the base ofwhich is shaped downwardly and inwardly to form a loop for engaging the toe of a boot, a body member extending rearwardly oi the bootfrom the apex of'the triangle, and means adjustable on the 11. A boot holder comprising means on' the body member forming an opening extendingrearwardly of the boot from the apex of the triangle, means on the body member for engaging'the heel of said boot, and means for adjusting .the tension on the heel engaging 5-9. A boot holder comprising gaewire rod formed substantiallyin the, shape of aztriangle, the base of which is shaped downwardly and inwardly to form a loop for engaging the .toe of aboot, a body member extending rearwardly of the boot from the apex of the triangle, means on the body mem- .ber for engaging the heel :of. said. boot, means for adjusting the tensionron the heel engaging means, and means engagingthe boot holder adjacent, the apex. oi.1the triangle for supporting .sameand the boot to :which .it isapplied. u

10. A boot holde'rcom'prising a wire rod formed substantially in'the shape of at'riangle, the base of which is shaped downwardly and inwardly to form a loop for .en'gagingthetoe of a; boot, a body. member'extending rearwardly' of the boot from. the apex of. the triangle, means on the body member for engaging. the; heel of said boot, means for adjusting the tension on the heel engaging means, and a hook memberfhingedly connected to'the boot holder for supporting same and the boot to which it is .applied, said hook member .being foldable onto the boot holder when not in use. v

a body member,

adapted to engage over the toe of the boot,'a U- shaped member, one shank of said U-shaped member being bent laterally therefrom for'engaging the rearward portion of the boot, and

resilient means on the body member for engaging the U-shaped member to adapt the device for various sizeboots. 1 r

12. A boot holder comprising a wire-rod formed to provide an opening adapted to fit over the toe of the boot, a body member extending 'rearwardly of the boot, and a U-shaped member movable on the body member for'engaging the heel of the boot to cooperate with the Wire rod supporting theboot. 1'

v13. A boot holder comprising a wire rod formed toprovide an openingadapted to fit over the toe of the boot, a body. member extending rearwardly of the boot, a U-shaped member movableo'n the bodyjmember for engaging the heel of the boot to cooperate .with 'the wire rod in supporting the boot, and meanson the body-member for exerting pressurev onv the. U-shaped member, to hold same in engagement with the heel of the boot.

14. A boot holder comprisinga wire rodformed to provide an opening adapted to'fit over the toe of the boot, a body member extending rearwardly of the boot, means movable on the body member for engaging the heel of the boot to cooperate with the wire rod in supporting the boot, means for adjusting the tension on the heel engaging means, and means engaging the boot holder at substantially the center thereof for supporting the same and the boot to which it is applied.

15. A boot holder comprising a wire rod formed to provide an opening adapted to fit over the toe of the boot, a body member extending rearwardly of the boot, means movable on the body member ior engaging the heel of the boot to cooperate with the wire rod in supporting the boot, means for adjusting the tension on the heel engaging means, and a hook member hingedly connected to the boot holder for supporting same and the boot to which it is applied.

HARVEY W. HILL. 

